13 Effective Tips for Short Story Writing

Short stories are one of the most popular forms of fiction writing—giving the writer the freedom to manipulate characters, set scenes and use their imagination to its fullest. Short story writing has a specific structure it must follow to flow well and be appealing to the reader. Before I list the tips, let's first define short story.

What exactly is a short story?

"A short story is a brief fictional prose narrative that is shorter than a novel and that usually deals with only a few characters. The short story is usually concerned with a single effect conveyed in only one or a few significant episodes or scenes."  

So, without further ado...

Here are 13 tips to writing a good short story:

1. Create a structured outline (who, what, when, where and how).
2. Crafting a compelling title that connects with the story; otherwise, readers will be confused.
3. Write the first draft.
4. Determine the main character.
5. Be thorough. It’s not feasible to merely give a description and background of the main character.
6. Ensure the characters are believable and consistent with the story’s main idea.
7. Additionally, they must engage in a two-way conversation to create a link between the characters.
8. Reveal the antagonist and protagonist.
9. Develop the plot.
10. Build the climax.
11. Write an abrupt conclusion.
12. Complete the final draft, proofread, and revise.
13. Edit, edit, and edit some more.